TDI Started Burning Oil Unexpectedly

[mkosem]

My 01 TDI, with roughly 111k miles recently started burning oil. I've lost roughly 1/2 a quart of oil over the last 1500 or so miles. My typical consumption until this point was roughly .5qt per 10k miles. I have noticed that she's been smoking a bit more than usualy lately, but I attributed it to the decrease in average temperature. Any ideas what it could be? I'm thinking the turbo's oil seal, but I think I might need to get a compression check done to rule out more serious problems. The car seems to be running as smoothly and getting the same mileage as normal. I'm not sure if that indicates anything?

Is there anything that I can check to get a better idea of what it is before I pay someone?

--Matt

 

[boraTDI04]

i know its stupid but think basic first, how many miles on your oil change?

 

[dieseldorf]

Matt, what kind of oil has been used in the car?

When was the air filter last changed? Snow screen last cleaned?

 

[MayorDJQ]

I have noticed that she's been smoking a bit more than usualy lately, but I attributed it to the decrease in average temperature.

Decrease in what average temperature? Do you mean the weather getting cooler? How much cooler is it? Most TDIers only notice more smoke when colder when it gets seriously cold, like 30*F or less, and then usually only at start up and a few minutes thereafter.

Have you put the car on ramps and removed the skid pan to see if there's an obious leak somewhere? May as well check the easy things first.

 

[mkosem]

There are about 3.5-4k miles on the current oil. I check the oil weekly, and didn't find this to be happening until about 1500 miles ago. The air filter was changed about 5k miles ago, snow screen was ectomied long ago.

The car ran on Shell Rotella T Synthetic until recently. The previous change was pentosin 505.01, this chang is elf excellium DID. There are no leaks, I did already check that.

--Matt

 

[boraTDI04]

and u have the stock recirc. ccv right? or the filtered version?

 

[cage]

Could be turbo gasket leaking too.

 

[mkosem]

I have the stock CCV system. Sicne you mentioned it. I checked it and found some dried on oily crud around the heater between the puck and the intake pipe.

Cage, Which turbo gasket are you referring to? I replaced the turbo oil supply line at the same time that the oil was changed, along with the gasket. I did realize after I did the job that I had forgotten to remote the original gasket. So I have 2 stacked gaskets in there. But, as I mentioned, the engine is clean and dry as a bone on the outside. The gasket and tube on the oil supply are clean and dry. There's no oil residue on the block on any side, and my skidplate is clean and dry.

--Matt

 

[mkosem]

It also seems that the oil disappears(when it is lost) at a quantity of roughly 1/5-1/4 of a qt all at once, as opposed to slowly over time. It really makes no sense to me. I check it every few days and it's dead on, then one day it's low.

It almost has me questioning my dipstick reading methodology, since I only notice the oil missing when the engine is warm. But I allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before checking if it's hot.

--Matt

 

[Bob_Fout]

At leat 10 minutes, but at most how long?

 

[dieseldorf]

But I allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before checking if it's hot.

The only way you're going to get a valid and consistent reading is to check about 3 - 5 minutes following a hot shutdown (10 mins should be OK).

I, too, would expect a multitude of readings depending on various conditions and temps. Consistency is the essence of a good level checker !!!!

 

[weasel]

I always check in the morning before start-up.

 

[MayorDJQ]

The longer you wait, the more oil drains into the pan out of the head, journals, turbo, etc. In the morning, a properly filled engine may read as over-filled.

Whereas checking at the fuel station after 5 minutes of filling with the same engine may show a "perfect" fill.

Consistency in method is the key.

 

[mkosem]

At least 10 minutes, at most 10-15 hours. Now that I think about it, I don't recall having seen a low reading on it with the engine cold.

I will keep very close tabs on it for another couple weeks to see if I can find any consistency.

--Matt